Bumper Aussie season awaits

– Perth will host the first match of a blockbuster fiveTest series against India from 22 November, Cricket Australia (CA) said yesterday as it released its international schedule for the 2024-25 season.

The series will then move to Adelaide for a day-night Test and then Brisbane’s Gabba, which traditionally was the opening venue of Australia’s Test summer.

The Melbourne Cricket Ground will stage the Boxing Day Test and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series will wrap up at Sydney Cricket Ground starting on 3 January.

CA chief executive Nick Hockley (above) called it “one of the most highly anticipated summers of cricket in memory”.

“Fittingly, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been put on the same footing as the (men’s) Ashes with a five-Test series for the first time since 1991-92,” he said.

Australia have not beaten India in a home series since 2014-2015.

The hosts have, however, won all four previous Tests at Perth Stadium.

“We’re confident the schedule will maximise viewership and attendances and there will be a tremendous atmosphere in stadiums across the country,” said Hockley

Also released yesterday were dates for Australia’s home oneday and Twenty20 series against Pakistan in November that will precede the India Test series.

The ODI series will start at the MCG on 4 November, the night before the Melbourne Cup public holiday in Victoria. The series will then move to Adelaide on 8 November and finish in Perth on 10 November.

The T20I series will run close to the Test series against India and will likely mean that none of Australia’s Test players will feature, with a significant turnover in Australia’s T20I side. –